Who played Tevye in the original Broadway production of the musical "Fiddler on the Roof"?

Samuel Joel "Zero" Mostel (February 28, 1915 – September 8, 1977) was an American actor, singer and comedian of stage and screen, best known for his portrayal of comic characters such as Tevye on stage in "Fiddler on the Roof", Pseudolus on stage and on screen in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", and Max Bialystock in the original film version of Mel Brooks' "The Producers" (1967).

On September 22, 1964, Mostel opened as Tevye in the original Broadway production of "Fiddler on the Roof". Because of Mostel's respect for the works of Sholem Aleichem he insisted that more of the author's mood and style be incorporated into the musical, and he made major contributions to its shape. He also created the cantorial sounds made famous in the song "If I Were a Rich Man".

The New York Times wrote "Zero Mostel's Tevye is so penetrating and heartwarming that you all but forget that it is a performance." In later years, the actors who followed Mostel in the role of Tevye invariably followed his staging. The show received rave reviews and was a great commercial success, running 3,242 performances, a record at the time. Mostel received a Tony Award for it and was invited to a reception in the White House, officially ending his political pariah status.